A SURVEY asking for views on where new play areas could be built to help tackle the city’s shortage has been extended after a ‘disappointing’ take-up.
Worcester City Council said it has been forced to re-open its consultation asking for views on potential new parks, play areas and outdoor facilities after a ‘lower than hoped’ response from the public.
A recent assessment of Worcester’s open spaces revealed that at least ten football pitches worth of space needs to be made into play areas for children just to reach the council's own targets.
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The council survey, which was available throughout January and February, includes an online interactive map that gives you the chance to comment on the state of existing play areas and make suggestions on improvements or where there is demand for a new play area.
More than 350 people responded to the survey but the results – and the draft play area strategy that the findings will inform – will not be discussed by councillors until June.
The council said it was also disappointed by the “very low appetite” among the city’s schools to help spread the word about its survey.
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It has been 12 months since the state of Worcester’s play areas was made public by the council, a report which revealed the city is way behind in the number of play areas it should have – particularly for teenagers.
Councillors were also told the city council did not have any ‘concrete’ plans on how to address the lack of play areas – particularly for older children – and it would need to produce a ‘strategy’ on potential locations and prices.
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The same committee agreed to spend £40,000 on the study and appointed specialists Harper Perry to produce the document.
An assessment of Worcester’s open spaces has shown that at least ten football pitches worth of space needs to be made into play areas for children in order to reach its own targets.
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Work carried out as part of the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) showed there is more than four acres of space set aside for children’s play areas – for those aged up to 12 – with the amount of space set aside for play areas for children up to 17-years-old “significantly poorer” and short by nearly 10 acres.
There is also disparity between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ when it comes to play areas, with Battenhall, St Peter’s and the city centre’s Cathedral ward, which covers most of the city centre, having the most play area space, with the one-and-a-half acres of space in St John’s top of the list.
The city’s St Stephen ward is far behind the rest of the city and currently has no play areas managed by the council.
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